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Memories of LA’s Zorthian Ranch; Magical Fairy Houses of Point Richmond

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Tara Zorthian, a granddaughter of founder Jirayr Zorthian, at Zorthian Ranch on March 28, 2025 in Altadena, California. She lived on the ranch for eight years before moving away two years ago. The Eaton fire destroyed several structures as well as vegetation on the Ranch. (Stella Kalinina for KQED)

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Stories of LA’s Zorthian Ranch, ‘A Portal to a Different Way of Life,’ Damaged in Eaton Fire

For more than 80 years, the Zorthian Ranch – nestled among the oak trees and steep canyons of Altadena – has been a home for artists, musicians and creatives seeking a different way of life. At this working ranch, people also tend animals and live close to the land, often growing their own food and generating their own energy. But it was almost completely destroyed by the Eaton Fire, and more than twenty people were displaced. Recent resident and audio reporter Sam Anderson interviewed members of this community, who explain the unique history of the ranch, and share in their own words – and sounds – what it means to them.

Fairy Houses Enchant Point Richmond With Miniature Worlds of Whimsy

Artists are often the people in our communities who bring people together in ways that are creative, spontaneous, and surprising. That’s true in the East Bay neighborhood of Point Richmond, where a local artist has created dozens of miniature fairy houses brimming with the personality of their imaginary inhabitants. In this story from the Bay Curious podcast, KQED’s Pauline Bartolone set out to explore these hidden treasures, and meet the person who created them.

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